An February 22, 2013 article at Time.com cites a study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies, which found that young adults whose parents are overly involved in their lives are less able to independently solve their own problems.

As older teens and young adults begin to develop their own sense of identity, they need to be given the opportunity to make their own decisions and to "fend for themselves," lest they become dependent on their parents for basic decision-making and lose their sense of independence, autonomy, and ultimately their self-confidence.

According to Holly Schiffrin, lead author of the study and an associate professor of psychology at the University of Mary Washington. “When adult children don’t get to practice problem-solving skills, they can’t solve these problems in the future.”